Recovery of defrauded monies

Richard Jackson made this Freedom of Information request to Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was successful.

Richard Jackson
Unknown

Dear Sir or Madam,

In March 2007 the NIAO released a report into a case of internal fraud in OSNI.

it was noted that the Agency was defrauded of over £70,000 between 1998 and 2003, and that in June 2006 the Court ordered the fraudster to repay £30,000 within 12 months. It was further noted that civil action was initiated to recover the £40,690 balance.

Can you please provide an update on this matter, in particular detailing if (and when) the £30k ordered was paid, and the result (or current status) of the action for the remaining £40k (and whether interest was/is also sought). Can you please also detail what costs were or are likely to be incurred in taking the civil action. If any of those costs have also been, or are expected to be, recoverable please detail this also.

Yours faithfully,

Richard

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Charlton, Rhonda, Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland

Mr Jackson

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives the right of access to recorded information and, as such, the questions in your correspondence are not deemed valid in terms of FOI. However, they will be dealt with as line of business. Enquiries need to be made about who would be able to answer your questions, in light of the fact that OSNI transferred to the new Land & Property Services Agency which is part of DFP in April 2008 and is, therefore, no longer part of DCAL at all.

Due to annual leave it will not be possible to speak to the relevant person in DFP until after 21 July - after this time we will be in a better position to let you know the position regarding a response.

If you wish to discuss any of this please do not hesitate to contact me at the number below.

Rhonda Charlton
Information Management Branch
[email address]
Ext 58949 / 02890 258949

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McEwan, Maria,

Dear Mr Jackson

I am replying to your request to DCAL below. OSNI was part of DCAL until
31 March 2008, and on that date was merged into Land & Property Services
(LPS), an Agency of the NI Department of Finance and Personnel. DCAL have
therefore asked that LPS reply to your email.

I apologise for the delay in replying to you.

The answers to the questions raised in your email are as follows:

Q1 - When did the fraudster repay the amounts of £30,000 and
£40,690.31?
 
£40,690.31 was received by OSNI on 13 August 2007 and the £30,000
was received by OSNI on 17 September 2007.
 
Q2 - Was any interest received in respect of the stolen monies?
 
No.
 
Q3 - Were any costs incurred by OSNI in taking the civil action?
 
OSNI legal costs in relation to the civil proceedings to recover the debt
of £40,690.31 were £1,680.25 (including VAT).

 
Q4 - Have any costs in respect of the civil action been or are expected to
be recovered?

The costs quoted in the answer to Question 3 above have been paid by the
fraudster.

Maria McEwan
PS/Iain Greenway
Chief Survey Officer
Land & Property Services
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
MALONE LOWER
Belfast
BT9 5BJ
 
Tel : 028 9025 5702
Fax : 028 9025 5700

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